Gage and measure for woodworkers.



P. B. LEATHER S.

GAGE AND MEASURE FOR WOODWORKERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1914.

Patented June 8,

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, p. a

PER-CY B. LEATHERS, 01? OAK LAWN, RHODE ISLAND.

GAGE AND MEASURE FOR WOODWORKERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 6, 1914. Serial No. 849,320.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, PERCY B. LEATHERS, a

V citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Lawn, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gages and Measures for Woodworkers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gages and measures for carpenters and builders, and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a device of comparatively simple construction for measuring and determining the distance between walls for the purpose of putting up shelves, and to provide means whereby the inclination or contour of the opposite walls may be determined and allowed for in the finished work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of simple construction for use in putting up shelves, for building stairs and for other jobs connected with the art of building or carpentry.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gage and measure made in accordance with this invention and shown opened out, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Flg. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and made on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals 1 designate a plurality of bars of metal pivotally connected together at their opposite ends as at 2 to form an extensible and contractible frame. The bars 1 are offset as shown in Fig. 3, said bars being contracted at their central portions as they are pivotally connected together upon the rivets 3, the contracted portions 4 being practically in contact and the offset portions 5 providing a slight space 6 between the members to permit them to fold inwardly and outwardly without binding. Extending from top to bottom in the center of the series of bars is a slotted member 7 connected by means of a bolt 8 and a wing nut 9 to the bars 1 at the top and provided with a slot 10 for an adjusting screw 11 provided with a wing nut 12. The end bars 1 are shorter than the bars 1 and are connected at their inner ends by means of a screw 13 which extends through the gage members A, and

a wing nut 14 is fitted to each of the screws 13. The gage members A each comprises a single piece of sheet metal bent upon itself at 15 to form two parallel portions 16, said parallel portions being oflset at 17 to pro- .vide clamp or jaw members 18, one of which extends gradually beyond the other, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the jaws 18 of the gage members are normally. separated and are clamped together by means of a screw 19 and a wing nut 20. The upper ends of the gage members A are beveled as shown at 21 to be used as miter gages.

When the device is to be used for putting up shelves, the wing nuts 14 are slightly loosened, and the wing nut 12 is also relieved from its screw 11. The frame is then extended until the hinged jaw members 18 contact with the side walls and the wing nuts are then tightened up to hold the frame in place with the gages properly positioned. Under certain conditions the side walls may be uneven or inclined, and in this case, the gages will give the exact inclination of the side walls. Under certain conditions, the side supports for shelves and for other structures are uneven, that is to say, are rough and undulated. In order to get the exact contour of the supports, a piece of card-board which represents the various un dulations may be clamped between the jaw members 18 of the gage members A and then the scribing will produce the exact contour of the side supports. Instead of cardboard, a thin piece of wood like profiling may be used.

There are many uses to which a combined gage and measure of the character referred to may be used, such as scribing the risers and treads of stairs, particularly for closed in stairs, and for measuring treads and risers for such stairs and for cutting short lengths of base boards, and thresholds.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the device is comparatively simple in construction, can be quickly adjusted to give the exact contours necessary for scribing the stocks for putting up shelves and for many other purposes.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is 1. A combined gage and measure 7 comprising an extensible frame made up of a series of bars pivotally connected together Patented June 8, 1915.

centrally and at their ends, gage members pivotally connected to the ends of said frame, said gage members being provided with clamping jaws at their outer edges to clamp contour guides, said gage members having beveled ends, and means for holding the extensible frame in adjusted position.

2. A combined gage and measure of the character described comprising an extensible frame, means for holding said frame in adjusted positions, and end gages pivotally connected to said frame, means for holding said gages in various inclined positions relatively to the extensible frame, and jaw members on said gages for holding cardboard or strips of wood cut out to conform to the various contours of side supports.

comprising a single piece of sheet metal bent upon itself and provided with jaw members and beveled ends.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERCY B. 'LEA'ri-iEns.

Witnesses:

JOHN P. BRENNAN, VICTOR D. SJoBERo.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

